Murphy

Population: 1,356
Median household income: $36,989
Median home value: $221,100

Located in Cherokee County, North Carolina, Murphy is a community with a population of 1,356. Its median household income of $36,989 runs below the Cherokee County figure of $51,496.

From 2019 to 2023, Murphy's population declined 18.9% from 1,671 to 1,356, while its median home value rose 36.5% from $162,000 to $221,100.

Households average 1.76 people. The median gross rent is $354.

Demographics

ACS 2019–2023

Population: 1,356
Median age: 37.8 yrs
Median household income: $36,989
Median home value: $221,100
Median gross rent: $354
Housing units: 866
Homeownership rate: 45.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24.6%
Unemployment rate: 5.4%

Trends

ACS 5-year · 2019–2023

Population

1,6711,356

Median household income

$30,962$36,989

Median home value

$162,000$221,100

Median gross rent

$631$354

Year	Population	Median household income	Median home value	Median gross rent
2019	1,671	$30,962	$162,000	$631
2020	1,855	$31,682	$166,800	$549
2021	1,659	$32,486	$146,500	$580
2022	1,549	$34,283	$185,100	$468
2023	1,356	$36,989	$221,100	$354

Each year is a US Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimate ending that year.

Age distribution

Under 51.7%

5 to 1713.2%

18 to 249.3%

25 to 3422.6%

35 to 4410.5%

45 to 547.3%

55 to 648.4%

65 to 7417.6%

75 and over9.4%

	Count	Share
Under 5	23	1.7%
5 to 17	179	13.2%
18 to 24	126	9.3%
25 to 34	307	22.6%
35 to 44	142	10.5%
45 to 54	99	7.3%
55 to 64	114	8.4%
65 to 74	238	17.6%
75 and over	128	9.4%

Race & ethnicity

	Count	Share
White (non-Hispanic)	1,084	79.9%
Black or African American	79	5.8%
American Indian & Alaska Native	21	1.5%
Asian	4	0.3%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Some other race	7	0.5%
Two or more races	94	6.9%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	67	4.9%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

No high school diploma9.8%

High school graduate39.8%

Some college or associate's25.8%

Bachelor's degree17.4%

Graduate or professional degree7.2%

	Count	Share
No high school diploma	101	9.8%
High school graduate	409	39.8%
Some college or associate's	265	25.8%
Bachelor's degree	179	17.4%
Graduate or professional degree	74	7.2%

Commute to work

Mean travel time to work: 12 min

Drove alone60.2%

Carpooled9.1%

Public transit0.0%

Walked24.4%

Bicycle0.0%

Worked from home4.3%

Other means2.0%

How workers get to work

	Count	Share
Drove alone	306	60.2%
Carpooled	46	9.1%
Public transit	0	0.0%
Walked	124	24.4%
Bicycle	0	0.0%
Worked from home	22	4.3%
Other means	10	2.0%

Travel time

	Count	Share
Under 15 min	332	68.3%
15 to 29 min	111	22.8%
30 to 44 min	23	4.7%
45 to 59 min	14	2.9%
60+ min	6	1.2%

Households

Average household size: 1.76
Poverty rate: 20.6% (254 of 1,233)

	Count	Share
Family households	254	36.3%
Nonfamily households	446	63.7%

Housing

Median year structure built: 1969

Occupancy

	Count	Share
Occupied	700	80.8%
Vacant	166	19.2%

Tenure (of occupied units)

	Count	Share
Owner-occupied	319	45.6%
Renter-occupied	381	54.4%

1-unit, detached63.5%

1-unit, attached0.0%

2 to 4 units24.4%

5 to 19 units3.3%

20 or more units3.6%

Mobile home & other5.2%

Units in structure

	Count	Share
1-unit, detached	550	63.5%
1-unit, attached	0	0.0%
2 to 4 units	211	24.4%
5 to 19 units	29	3.3%
20 or more units	31	3.6%
Mobile home & other	45	5.2%

Geography

Place GEOID: 3745660
Type (LSAD): 43
Land area: 2.57 sq mi
Water area: 0.11 sq mi
Center point: 35.0943, -84.0249